President's Message - September 2009: Addicted to Fly Fishing…Need Help!
by Rob Burlingame, AFF President
It’s hard to believe that September, fall football and dove season are finally here. Even harder to believe was spending a whole weekend without seeing triple digit temperatures! It seems that this year has flown by, despite its many challenges and changes. But the time has come for the temperatures to start inching down, the waters to cool a little, baitfish to ponder their annual southbound migration and some of the best Texas coast fishing to begin! This may just be my favorite time of the year!
September also marks our third annual “Women in Fly Fishing” month. With a wife that is nearly as addicted to the sport as I am, our annual tribute to women holds a special place for me. Many of my articles this year have encouraged members to bring a friend, kid or total stranger fishing with you…why not your wife or girlfriend! There is nothing that can equal quality time with that special someone when it is mixed with a few tight lines and splashing fish! I am proud to be part of such a great club that supports our women anglers. Make sure you are at our meeting this month to let the ladies know how important they are to us and the sport.
Having been a member of this club for a little more than six years now, I am still amazed at how much knowledge and experience lies within arms reach to those who are bold enough to ask for help. Whether you need help with your casting, tying flies, finding fishing spots or just want some company on the water, there is always someone in the club willing to lend a hand. I know that both my wife and I would not be close to the fishermen we are today without the patience and mentoring that this club has provided. Many of you have seen the accelerated learning and success that can occur when members of this club band together and take a newbie under their wing. Sharing our invaluable information is one of our club’s founding mantras and is one of the greatest benefits our club has to offer.
But beware, soaking up too much information may lead to a serious condition…Fly Fishing Addiction. You should all take caution, as I have seen numerous cases recently pop up amongst club officers and members. Common side effects can include repeatedly tying the same fly (Magic Fly Syndrome), jittery sensations when away from the water for more than two weeks (Lack of Fishingitis), constantly “practicing” fly casting in grassy fields or on your front walk (Grass Bass Disorder), collecting truck loads of fly boxes filled with all colors and sizes of flies (Fly Boxitosis), dedicating a room or corner of your house to fly tying and fishing (Fly Roomatoma), and developing a severe competitive drive when discovering your buddy just beat your personal fishing best (Trophy Envy). The only known treatment for serious cases of Fly Fishing Addiction are to immediately find the closest fly fisherman and share a skill with them they do not already know. You should also seek help immediately from as many amphibious physicians as possible, found scattered along the Hill Country Streams and Texas Flats.
OK, so fly fishing addiction is not really as bad as it seems. In fact, it is what draws us all together as a club and the shared interest makes our meetings, outings and impromptu gatherings so much fun! We have all seen members join, members go and members come back throughout the years. The faces of the club may change, but the love of fly fishing and the welcoming nature have always remained. And it’s not just a love of one type of fly fishing. In fact, I was somewhat surprised when we collected surveys a year and a half ago at just how diverse our club is. Our membership is made up of all skill levels. We are almost evenly split between those interested in salt water and fresh water. A vast majority either tie their own flies or have done so in the past. Some of us prefer wading, some kayaking and some boating. Some prefer the toothy tangles of the jetties and others prefer an afternoon of perch jerking therapy. Show up on a non-meeting Tuesday and you are likely to find a variety of flies being tied. They say that variety is the spice of life, and we surely have it at AFF.
Armed with the confirmation of our club’s diversity, the officers have been diligently trying to put together meetings, outings and articles that capture as many interests as possible. We also try to throw in a few new ideas to keep things lively. I am glad to be part of a group that works very hard to make this club the best it can be. Make sure you thank your officers when they do something you like! Hopefully we are succeeding in providing whatever it is that you hope to get out of this club! After all, the club is much more than its officers, it is each and every one of you who read the articles, come to meetings and outings or just share a love of the sport.
If you have been following my articles throughout this year, I have tried to include a challenge in each message. This one is no different. What I am encouraging this month is that you all provide your feedback and ideas to the officers so that we can continue to improve the club, whether through its meetings, outings, education, conservation, public service or its attraction to new members. Sounds easy enough, right?!? I can assure you that the officers will take your suggestions seriously and implement as many as we can.
Just think about what a few ideas have done for this club in the past. How did the annual white bass outing get started? What about the big shell trips? Or the One Fly tournament? How about the now frequent overnight Tarpon trips? I am excited to think of what our Fence Lake trips will look like in 5 years. And the new Lydia Ann tournament. All of these trips and tournaments started as just an idea with some momentum that boosted it into reality.
Our latest idea was even from a past member, Mike Lee (or probably better stated as a member on sabbatical, pending return). We are underway with a revamp of the web site that should help us all, thanks to some great ideas that Mike shared and is implementing. You will notice better photo galleries, an improved calendar and the addition of a Comments/Suggestion forum where you all can share your ideas!
I continue to be amazed at how much the club has changed since I joined six years ago. And, I continue to be amazed with the immense knowledge that lurks in the minds of our members. Let’s all get excited about the club’s future and try to come up with some new ideas to shape it into an even more involved, more fun and more rewarding group of Fly Fishaholics!